Philippine movie star, presidential candidate Poe dies

Supporters of top movie star and defeated presidential candidate Fernando Poe, gather in front of a funeral parlor where Poe's wake is being held in Pasig, suburban Manila yesterday. Poe, who almost unseated President Gloria Arroyo in the presidential elections in May, suffered a stroke at the weekend and died shortly after midnight Monday. PHOTO: AFP

The 65-year-old Poe, popularly known by his initials FPJ, fell into a coma after a massive stroke over the weekend and never recovered.

Political figures and top showbiz stars had trooped to the hospital to pay their last respects by his bedside where he had been on life support since Sunday and even his erstwhile rival Arroyo praised him.

Poe was "a good man, a worthy adversary in politics and a great Filipino," the president said in a statement.

She said she prayed hard for Poe after he suffered the stroke, adding "he still had much to do for our people."

"This tragedy comes as a shock to us all. I mourn with the millions of Filipinos who loved him dearly and held him up as a symbol of their aspirations."